Guide rail means

ABSTRACT

Guide rail means on which wheels travel, characterized by the provision of elastic members for absorbing impact forces occurring in contact engagement of said wheels with the cooperating guide rails, said elastic members being disposed along the respective surfaces of the guide rails as projecting slightly beyond said surfaces of the guide rails, so that only after the impact forces of the wheels having been absorbed by said elastic members, the wheels are adapted for direct contact engagement with the cooperating guide rails to finally be conducted substantially by the guide rails.

0 United States Patent 1191 [111 3,834,513

Miura et al. 1 Sept. 10, 1974 [54] GUIDE RAIL MEANS ,9(3)6,390 lllefti191135317391;

,0 2,377 1 [75] lnvemms 9 KatsutfliKm 3,237,756 3/1966 Puiiir 198/195 gz 3 filayashl Nakalawa 3,491,873 1/1970 Fauth 198/204 a su a, a o apan[73] Assignee: Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Primary Examiner--Richard A.Schacher Assistant Examiner--Richard K. Thomson [22] Ffled' 1972Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig & Antonelli [21] App]. No.: 314,535

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec 20 1971 Japan46402716 Gulde rail means on which wheels travel, character- 8 1972Japan Q3182 ized by the provision of elastic members for absorbingimpact forces occurring in contact engagement of said Mar. 8, 1972 Japan47 2319 wheels with the cooperating guide rails said elastic membersbeing disposed along the respective surfaces '8" 198/16 ii gg fi of theguide rails as projecting slightly beyond said [58] Fie'ld 195 surfacesof the guide rails, so that only after the im- 6 6 pact forces of thewheels having been absorbed by said elastic members, the wheels areadapted for direct contact engagement with the cooperating guide [56] X,:Zq rails to finally be conducted substantially by the guide rails.2,455,175 11/1948 Hohl 198/16 R 2,813,613 11/1957 Margles 198/16 R 28Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEnsm 01914 I I I suit! 2 or 6 FIG. 4

PATENTED SEP 1 01974 shin 0F 6 FIG.

FIG. 7

FIG. 6

PATENTEDSEPIOIQH v v 3.894.513

sumsure 400 500 Seams cousmm OF THE BUFFERS /cm) FIG.

Q g n (5) A .LOVdWI d0 NOLLWE'IBOOVT GUIDE RAIL MEANS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement on rail meansfor guiding travelling wheels therealong, and more particularly toimproved rail means for best use in an electrically driven escalator ormoving sidewalk.

Generally, an electrically driven escalator or moving stair, or movingsidewalk is designed such that a plurality of stair elements supportedby rotatable wheels running on guide rails are interconnected by meansof endless chains so as to be driven for circulatory movement cycles.

In such a conventional arrangement, it has been also common in practicethat each stair element provides two front wheels and two rear wheels,or four wheels in all, each of which wheels being covered around itsexternal surface with a suitable elastic member such as rubber and theequivalent in order to avoid noise problems occurring upon contactengagement between the wheel and its cooperating rail.

However, even with such a measure of covering the external surface ofthe wheel with an elastic substance, it has been hardly possible toentirely eliminate the noise problems described since, in view ofwarranting the desired service life of such an elastic member as rubber,there essentially needs to employ a rubber member having a greater rateof hardness. More adversely, in the case of an escalator system, suchnoises have been found rather violent especially in the upper and lowertransit regions where each travelling stair element changes its movingdirection to and from the horizontal, and also in the upper and lowerturnover regions of the endless stair travelling path. In a quiet officesuch as in the bank, for example. these noises have been extremelyjarring. In other words, the occurrence of such violent shock soundsimplies the fact that the wheels and the guide rails impinge upon eachother under big impacts, which being also detrimental to maintainingdesirous durabilities of the two members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is,in guide rail means of the type described, to eliminate uncomfortablevibrations or noises which may arise in the travelling of wheels alongthe guide rails.

Another object of the invention is to provide guide rail means of thetype described in which any impact force occurring between wheels andcooperating guide rails can be absorbed so as to further improve theirdurabilities.

To accomplish the above objects, the invention is featured by theprovision of elastic members for absorbing impact forces occurring incontact engagement of the wheels with the cooperating guide rails, saidelastic members being disposed along the respective surfaces of theguide rails, so that only after the impact forces of the wheels havingbeen absorbed by said elastic members, the wheels are adapted for directcontact engagement with the cooperating guide rails to finally beconducted substantially by the guide rails.

A further object of the invention is to attain the extension ofdurabilities of said elastic members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide guide rail meansof the type described in which said elastic members are of simpleconstruction as well as being readily mountable and demountable.

These and-other objects of the invention will become apparent by thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsshowing exemplified practices of the invention, wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic side view illustrating the whole construction ofthe ordinary escalator system;

FIG. 2 is a cross view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the details of the relativearrangement between wheels and cooperating guide rails in the lowertransit region of the ordinary escalator system",

Flg. 4 is a schematic side view showing the relative arrangement betweenthe wheels and guide rails at one terminal or turnover section of thesame escalator system;

FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 3 however showing how the guiderails in the lower transit region incorporate the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 however showing the provision ofdifferent shock absorbers according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view still similar to FIG. 6 however showing the provisionof shock absorbers according to the invention disposed in juxtapositionto the rails;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing the provision of shockabsorbers according to the invention disposed for both of the front andrear wheels; and

FIG. 10 is a characteristic curve showing the relationship between theimpact acceleration of the wheel and the spring constant of the elasticmember.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Generally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and2, an escalator system provides sprockets 2 and 3 respectively disposedaround the upper and lower end portions of a main frame body 1, aroundwhich sprockets is trained an endless chain 4 for drive engagement withthem. Through the length of this endless chain 4, are provided apulrality of stair elements 12 each of which comprises a tread board 5,supporting frames 6, a riser 7, a front axle 8, a rear axle 9, and frontand rear wheels'l0 and 11 each in pair and connected to the respectiveaxles, in such a manner that the stair elements being arranged side byside with one another in endless form are drivingly connected to theendless chain 4 through the respective front axles 8. To operate theescalator, a further sprocket 16 is actuated by a driving sprocket 14 ina drive source 13 through a chain 15, which sprocket 16 in turn actuatesthe stair element driving sprocket- 2 fixed coaxially with the formersprocket 16. As the sprocket 2 rotates, the stair element carryingwheels 10 and II are caused to travel on a predetermined track definedby holding rails 19 and guide rails l7, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2S and26, at a constant speed.

In the following description of the invention, it has to be noted thatfor the sake of simplicity, only the relative arrangement between one ofthe wheels and its associated rail will be described to avoid the samerecitation regarding the other, unless otherwise required depending onthe case.

Now, during the course of the above travelling, however, the frontwheels of each stair element are prone to longitudinal vibrationsbecause of their being connected to the chain 4 through the front axle8, such longitudinal vibrations causing the wheels to impinge upon thecooperating rails to produce noises.

Further, as is well known, an escalator system is generally fabricatedwith the angular inclination of 30 degrees, which inclination being insmooth connection with each end horizontal where passengers step in orout. Turning now to FIG. 3, which shows the lower transit region of theescalator system, it can be seen that during movement of the front wheel10 from the horizontal to the inclination of 30, it springs up to theholding rail 19 from the guide rail 18 and then springs down to theguide rail 18, as shown at the positions 10a, 10b, 10c and llOd thewheel takes in that order. This is caused by the action of normalcomponents N, and N produced from the prevailing tension exerted in theendless chain 4. In consequence, the wheel heavily impinges upon thetread surfaces of the rails 18 and 19, resulting in not only generationof noises but also damages of the front wheel 10 or rails 18 and 19. Inan effort to solve this problem, it has been proposed to reduce thedistance h between the holding rail 19 and the guide rail 18, or thedistance g between the holding rail 19 and the top of the front wheel10, and this has been satisfactory with respect to eliminate the abovedescribed drawbacks. However, with the distance g being such reduced,the front wheel 10 is forcibly urged against the rail by the action oftension in the endless chain 4, thus wear of the front wheel 10 being soquickened that its commercially acceptable durability or service lifecan not be warranted.

Further, it is to be understood that there involves the same problems asdescribed above also in the upper transit region of the escalator whereeach stair element changes its moving direction from the incline of 30to the horizontal. Still further, the same noise problems occur aroundeach turnover of the endless track where the rear wheel in each stairelement is being transferred from the upper guide rail portion 20 to thelower guide rail portion 23 (conversely, in the case of adownwardrunning escalator system), as shown in FIG. 4, and additionally,also where the front wheel 10 is being released from the sprocket 2 ontothe guide rail 22 (onto the guide rail 21 in the case ofdownward-running escalator system).

Therefore, the present invention is directed to solve the aforementionedproblems by providing a structure in which rubber members 27a, 27b and27c are fittingly mounted in respective longitudinal grooves 30 formedcentrally of the guide rail 18 and the holding rail 19, each of saidrubber members having a relief notch 28, as shown in FIG. 6. Also, it isarranged that each rubber member projects slightly beyond the treadsurface of the associated rail. The amount of this projection, asindicated at i in FIG. 6, is preferably ranged from lmm to 3mm fromviewpoints of fabrication and durability. In another word, if thisprojecting amount i is selected as smaller than 1mm, the result will beadverse in that the wheel instantly collides against the tread surfaceof the cooperating rail thereby voiding the desired effect of shockabsorption, in addition to the resultant diffculties in the manufactureand mounting of the rubber members. If selected greater than 3mm, on theother hand, then it will become difficult to set the value of impactacceleration of the wheel at those not exceeding 2 g that aresubstantially effective to reduce the noise problems, and besides, theshock absorber tends to be impaired of its elasticity.

Now, the associated parts arranged according to the invention will bedescribed of their operation by referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6.

When the travelling front wheel 10 is around the position indicated at100, as seen in FIG. 5, the wheel first rides on the rubber cushionmember 27a mounted along the guide rail portion 18, and then comes incontact engagement with the rail 18 after its impact having beenabsorbed by the rubber member, as best seen in FIG. 6. In like manner,when the wheel is shifted to the side of the holding rail portion 19,its impact is absorbed by the rubber member 27b, and further whenreturned to the guide rail 18, the rubber member 27c serves to take upthe impact of the wheel. Accordingly, it is assured that the rubbermember 27 can afford satisfactory absorption of any impacts produced bythe wheel especially when it vibrates longitudinally, or springs up tothe side of the holding rail 19, still or falls down to the side of theguide rails 18, as mentioned above. Thus, the described problem ofvibration can completely be settled in the escalator system according tothe invention. Further, the same effect will be obtained equally whenproviding the invention at each terminal section of the endless track,namely at the portions of the upper and lower rear wheel conductingrails 20 and 23 adjacent each turning, or at the corresponding portionsof the upper and lower front wheel conducting rails 21 and 22. Stillfurther, it will be obvious that the provision of the inventionthroughout the entire length of the endless rail track system eliminatesnormal noises which occur during the running of the escalator, thusyielding far better results. However, the present invention is notlimited only to such an overall application extending all over theendless rail track, but the invention may unobjectionably be appliedpartly of the rail track system, namely around the upper and lowertransit regions between the horizontals and the inclines, or around eachterminal truning of the endless rail track where particularlyintensified noises tend to occur.

Again, in the arrangement of each rubber member according to theinvention, it is featured that the rubber member 27 is fittinglyinserted into the groove 30 formed on the associated rail as slightlyprojecting beyond the tread surface of the rail so that the front wheel10 be adapted to come in contact engagement with the rail only afterfirst having engaged with the rubber member 27. There will now be givenreasons for the above.

First, let it be supposed that instead of the invention, a rubber layeris simply applied on the tread surface of the rail. In such anarrangement, the wheel 10 rolls on the rubber layer so that the latteris directly exposed to loads of the travelling stair elements or thepassengers being carried. This causes the rubber layer to be worn offrapidly. Running tests have proved that with such an arrangement ofsimply applying a rubber layer on the rail, damages occurred in lessthan 3 months, while the escalator system employing the invention servedsatisfactorily for more than 2 years.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the invention being directed to furtherimprove the durability of the rubber cushion member, in which a metalplate 28' is secured upon the surface of each rubber member. With thisaltered arrangement, the wheel is caused to make contact with the metalplate 28' during the process of shock absorption, resulting in asubstantial reduction of wear around the rubber surface, and it has beenfound by tests that this altered practice of the invention gained anextra service life of over 12 months in addition to the normal lifeattained by the previous arrangement without using the metal plate.

FIG. 8 shows a further modification of the invention, in which an upperrail 34A and a lower rail 34 are fastened to respective horizontal sidesof a longitudinally extending rail-holding frame 33 having a U-shapedcross section, through bolts 39 and nuts 39A, while rubber members 30are secured to the frame 33 similarly through bolts 35 in juxtapositionwith the respective rails 34 and 34A, however as projecting inwardlyslightly beyond the surfaces of the respective rails.

Between each rubber member 30 and its cooperating rail 34 or 34A, isprovided a relief space into which the rubber material is forced upondeformation under load. Further, there are conveniently provided upperand lower guide plates 32 and 32 fixedly mounted, via fastening bolts36, on the inner side of the vertical wall of the frame 33, which guideplates serving to prevent the wheel 10 from a snake motion or travellingin zigzag along the guide rail track and also to avoid objectionablerisks of the rubber member 30 being removed out of its position.

With the above arrangement wherein the rubber members 30 are disposed injuxtaposition with the guide rail 34 and the holding rail 34A,respectively, it is thus possible to advantageously omit rather acomplicated process of forming the grooves as described with respect tothe previous embodiment. Preferably, each rebber member is arranged tokeep contact with its cooperating rail only over a width not exceedinghalf the wheel width so as to avoid full imposition of loads from thetravelling wheel 10 upon the rubber member 30.

FIG. 9 showsa further practice of the invention applied to the guiderail and the wheels in the incline region of a straight travellingcourse. Here, it is arranged that a sole guide rail 37 is employed ascommon to the front and rear wheels 10 and 11 since the two wheels 10and 11 are to travel flush with each other in the straight inclinationregion. More specifically, the guide rail 37 on which the wheels 10 and11 travel is supported fixedly on a U-shaped longitudional frame 40, bymeans of bolts 41 and nuts 41A. Further, the guide rail 37 is positionedin such a manner that each of the front and rear wheels 10 and 11 isplaced as projecting a certain width outwardly from the respective sideedge of the guide rail, as viewed and best seen in FIG. 9. Similarly tothe preceding embodiment described with reference to FIG. 8, rubbermembers 42 are disposed in juxtaposition with the guide rail 37 andbelow the respective wheels as filling the inner comer spaces of theU-shaped frame 40. The rubber members 42 are also secured to the frame40 through bolts 46 and extend slightly outwardly beyond the guidesurface of the rail 37. With this structure, thus, amy vibrations andnoises can be alleviated or eliminated through the elastic action of therubber members 42. Reference numerals 43 and 44 in the same Figure showrespective guide plates which serve to prevent any snake motion ortravelling in zigzag of the wheels 10 and 11 and also to hold therespective rubber members in position; and numerals 47 show reliefspaces to permit the resilient deformation of the rubber members underload.

Referring to all of the embodiments of the invention that have beendescribed so far, it will be noted that rubber members are employed incommon throughout all of them. In this regard, however, the same purposeaccording to the invention may equally be attained, in I FIG. 7 forexample, by substituting the rubber members with coil springs arrangedbelow the metal plates 28'. Further, it is pointed out that during thenormal travelling of the wheel 10 on its associated grooved rail, in

the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wheel might by somepossibility be scratched of its peripheral face, causing furtherance ofvibrations. To eliminate this possibility, it is desirably arranged, asshown in FIG. 7, that the holding rail 19 is provided with a recessedstep portion x adapted for snug accomodation of the metal plate 28'therein while the plate 28' being enlarged of its width correspondingly.With the thus provided arrangement, the resultant operation is such thatupon engagement of the wheel 10 with the metal plate 28' attached withthe rubber member 27b, the rubber member 27b performs its shockabsorption through deflection, and then the metal plate 28 is snuglyhoused in the recess x so that the wheel 10 travels on the tread surfacenow made up of the guide rail and the metal plate 28'. Thus, theoccurrence of scratches on the peripheral face of the travelling wheeldescribed above can be avoided.

Finally, FIG. 10 is a characteristic curve showing the relationshipbetween the acceleration of impact and the spring constant of thebuffers. It is desired, according to the tests, that for the magnituderange of impact acceleration exceeding 2g, the minimum rate of springconstant is selected as Kg/cm, and the upper limit of this springconstant is preferably set at 300 Kg/cm that corresponds to lg-impactacceleration. Otherwise, as apparent from the same Figure, the rubber orbuffer member with a spring constant exceeding 300 Kg/cm will onlyincrease its hardness producing a lesser extent of flexture under thenormal force so that in operation, the wheels are obliged to traveldirect upon the shock absorbing rubber members.

Relevant tests have proved that when applying the invention to anescalator or electrically driven moving sidewalk, a best suitable rangeof spring constant is from Kg/cm to 200 Kg/cm.

It has also been found desirous, by further tests, to select the depthor thickness of the rubber buffer as more than 10 times its projectionor preferably 10 times to 15 times, from viewpoints of securing itsoptimum effect of shock absorption and longest possible service life.

What is claimed is:

1. Guide rail means for guiding rotary traveling wheels, characterizedby the provision of shock absorbing members which are positioned alongrespective tracks of said traveling wheels'with the extremities thereofslightly projecting beyond the surfaces of the respectively associatedguide rails, said shock absorbing members being adapted to assumepositions flush with or below the surfaces of said associated guiderails upon completion of absorbing impact forces exerted by said wheelswhen said wheels are passing thereat, and said wheels being guided bysaid rails when said absorbing members assume said positions flush withor below the surfaces of said associated guide rails.

2. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that theamount of projection provided in each of said shock absorbing members is1mm to 3mm.

3. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that thespring constant of each shock absorbing member is 100 Kg/cm to 300Kb/cm.

4. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that asubstantially wear resisting member is provided on the side of said eachshock absorbing member in contact with the associated wheel.

5. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 4, characterized by that saidsubstantially wear resisting member is greater in width than theassociated shock absorbing member so that upon completion of absorbingimpact forces exerted by the associated wheel, said substantially wearresisting member is caused to be positioned flush with said guide railwhereby allowing said associated wheel to travel on said substantiallywear resisting member.

6. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that saideach shock absorbing member is made of rubber, its thickness beingpreferably to times said amount of projection beyond the surface of theassociated rail.

7. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, character ized by that saideach shock absorbing member is provided in juxtaposition with theassociated guide rail, the width of said shock absorbing member beingless than half that of said associated wheel.

8. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 7, characterized by that atleast one supporting frame is provided for supporting said guide rails,said shock absorbing members being held in position by said supportingframe, while said supporting frame provides a guide plate to preventzigzag motion of the travelling wheels.

9. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that saideach guide rail on which the associated wheel travel is provided with alongitudinal groove, said shock absorbing member being provided asinserted into said groove with the exposed end thereof projectingslightly beyond the surface of said rail so as to engage said associatedwheel, said shock absorbing member being adapted to be positioned flushwith or below said surface of the rail after having absorbed impactforces exerted by the associated wheel.

10. Guide rail means, in an escalacalator or an elec' trically drivenmoving sidewalk of the type which comprises a plurality of stairelements each carried by front wheels and rear wheels travelling alongrespective rails, said stair elements being interconnected through anendless chain trained around an upper sprocket and a lower sprocket fordrive engagement therewith, so that said stair elements be driven forcirculatory movement cycles in an endless looped track, characterized bythe provision of shock absorbing members which are positioned along thetracks of said travelling wheels with the exposed extremities thereofprojecting slightly beyond the surfaces of said rails, said shockabsorbing members being adapted to be positioned flush with or belowsaid surfaces of the associated ralls only after having absorbed impactforces exerted by said travelling wheels.

II. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by thatsaid shock absorbing members are provided at least in the region wheresaid wheels move from said sprockets t0 the guide rails.

12. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, which consists ofhorizontal portions and inclination portions, characterized by that saidshock absorbing members are provided in the transit regions of the guiderails from said horizontal portions to said inclination portions, andvice versa.

13. Guide rail means as set fother in claim 10, characterized by thatsaid shock absorbing members are provided in each terminal region of theescalator length where said rear wheels shift from the upper guide railsto the lower guide rails, and vice versa.

14. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that theamount of projection in each shock absorbing member is 1mm to 3mm.

15. Guide rail means as set forth inclaim l0, characterized by that thespring constant of each said shock absorbing member is Kg/cm to 300Kg/cm.

16. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that asubstantially wear resisting member is provided at the side of said eachshock absorbing member to be in contact with the associated wheel.

17. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, charac terized by thatsaid substantially wear resisting member is greater in width than theassociated shock absorbing member while said wear resisting member beingadapted to be positioned flush with the surface of the associated guiderail after impacts of the wheel having been absorbed by said shockabsorbing member, thereby allowing said wheel to travel upon said wearresisting member.

18. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by thatsaid shock absorbing members are made of rubber, and each has athickness preferably 10 to 15 times the amount of projection beyond thesurface of the rail.

19. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by thatsaid shock absorbing members are provided in juxtaposition with saidassociated rails while the width of each shock absorbing member beingless than half the width of said associated wheel.

20. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by theprovision of at least one supporting frame for supporting said guiderails, said supporting frame retaining said shock absorbing members inposition while guide plates for preventing the wheels from zigzag motionalong the guide rails are provided on said supporting frame.

21. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that inthe region where the guide rails on which the respective front and rearwheels in each of said stair elements travel are arranged flush witheach other, a common rail for both of the front and rear wheels isdisposed on and centrally of a U-shaped supporting frame, shockabsorbing members each having a width less than half the width of saidrespective wheel being provided between said common rail and the sidewalls of said U-shaped supporting frame, while holding plates serving toretain said respective shock absorbing members in position beingprovided on the inner side walls of said supporting frame.

22. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by thatsaid each guide rail is formed with a groove into which the shockabsorbing member is inserted as projecting slightly beyond the surfaceof said rail to engage said associated wheel, said shock absorbingmember being adapted to absorb impact forces exerted by said wheel incontact engagement with the rail and thereafter be positioned flush withor below the surface of said rail.

23. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 22, characterized by thatsaid groove is countersunk to form a recess wider than said groove whilesaid shock absorbing member provides on the upper surface thereof arigid member of substantial wear-resistance wider than said shockabsorbing member, said rigid member being adapted, during the travellingof the wheel, for snug engagement in said recess to be positioned flushwith the surface of said rail.

24. A conveyor arrangement comprising: a conveying means, a plurality ofroller means connected to said conveying means for movable supportingthe same, guide rail means for receiving and guiding the movement ofsaid roller means, means provided along at least selected portions ofsaid guide rail means for absorbing impact forces of said roller means,said impact absorbing means including a plurality of shock absorbingmembers, said shock absorbing members including surface portionsprojecting above the surfaces of the guiding rail means to permit saidroller means to engage said surface portions prior to engaging saidguide rail means, said shock absorbing members being deformable uponengagement with said roller means to assume a position at least flushwith said guide rail means to permit said roller means to be guided bysaid guide rail means.

25. An arrangement according to claim 24, wherein said roller means aredisposed on respective lateral sides of said conveying means, saidguiding rail means including a pair of spaced tracks disposed onrespective sides of said conveying means for receiving said roller meanstherebetween, each of said tracks being provided with a shock absorbingmember disposed substantially centrally thereof.

26. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein each of said tracks isprovided with a longitudinally extending groove, and wherein said shockabsorbing members are disposed within said groove.

27. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said projectingsurface portions of said shock absorbing members are provided with awear resistant member, said guide tracks being provided with means forreceiving said last-mentioned member to permit said member to assume aflush position with said guide tracks upon deformation of said shockabsorbing members by said roller means.

28. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein a substantiallyU-shaped support frame is provided for maintaining the respective pairof guide tracks in spaced relationship, each guide track of a respectivepair being disposed on a respective leg of said U-shaped support framewith a shock absorbing member being disposed adjacent to and in abuttingrelationship with a respective guide track.

1. Guide rail means for guiding rotary traveling wheels, characterizedby the provision of shock absorbing members which are positioned alongrespective tracks of said traveling wheels with the extremities thereofslightly projecting beyond the surfaces of the respectively associatedguide rails, said shock absorbing members being adapted to assumepositions flush with or below the surfaces of said associated guiderails upon completion of absorbing impact forces exerted by said wheelswhen said wheels are passing thereat, and said wheels being guided bysaid rails when said absorbing members assume said positions flush withor below the surfaces of said associated guide rails.
 2. Guide railmeans as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that the amount ofprojection provided in each of said shock absorbing members is 1mm to3mm.
 3. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by thatthe spring constant of each shock absorbing member is 100 Kg/cm to 300Kb/cm.
 4. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized bythat a substantially wear resisting member is provided on the side ofsaid each shock absorbing member in contact with the associated wheel.5. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 4, characterized by that saidsubstantially wear resisting member is greater in width than theassociated shock absorbing member so that upon completion of absorbingimpact forces exerted by the associated wheel, said substantially wearresisting member is caused to be positioned flush with said guide railwhereby allowing said associated wheel to travel on said substantiallywear resisting member.
 6. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1,characterized by that said each shock absorbing member is made ofrubber, its thickness being preferably 10 to 15 times said amount ofprojection beyond the surface of the associated rail.
 7. Guide railmeans as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that said each shockabsorbing member is provided in juxtaposition with the associated guiderail, the width of said shock absorbing member being less than half thatof said associated wheel.
 8. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 7,characterized by that at least one supporting frame is provided forsupporting said guide rails, said shock absorbing members being held inposition by said supporting frame, while said supporting frame providesa guide plate to prevent zigzag motion of the travelling wheels. 9.Guide rail means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that saideach guide rail on which the associated wheel travel is provided with alongitudinal groove, said shock absorbing member being provided asinserted into said groove with the exposed end thereof projectingslightly beyond the surface of said rail so as to engage said associatedwheel, said shock absorbing member being adapted to be positioned flushwith or below said surface of the rail after having absorbed impactforces exerted by the associated wheel.
 10. Guide rail means, in anescalacalator or an electrically driven moving sidewalk of the typewhich comprises a plurality of stair elements each carried by frontwheels and rear wheels travelling along respective rails, said stairelements being interconnected through an endless chain trained around anupper sprocket and a lower sprocket for drive engagement therewith, sothat said stair elements be driven for circulatory movement cycles in anendless looped track, characterized by the provision of shock absorbingmembers which are positioned along the tracks of said travelling wheelswith the exposed extremities thereof projecting slightly beyond thesurfaces of said rails, said shock absorbing members being adapted to bepositioned flush with or below said surfaces of the associated raIlsonly after having absorbed impact forces exerted by said travellingwheels.
 11. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized bythat said shock absorbing members are provided at least in the regionwhere said wheels move from said sprockets to the guide rails.
 12. Guiderail means as set forth in claim 10, which consists of horizontalportions and inclination portions, characterized by that said shockabsorbing members are provided in the transit regions of the guide railsfrom said horizontal portions to said inclination portions, and viceversa.
 13. Guide rail means as set fother in claim 10, characterized bythat said shock absorbing members are provided in each terminal regionof the escalator length where said rear wheels shift from the upperguide rails to the lower guide rails, and vice versa.
 14. Guide railmeans as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that the amount ofprojection in each shock absorbing member is 1mm to 3mm.
 15. Guide railmeans as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that the springconstant of each said shock absorbing member is 100 Kg/cm to 300 Kg/cm.16. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that asubstantially wear resisting member is provided at the side of said eachshock absorbing member to be in contact with the associated wheel. 17.Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized by that saidsubstantially wear resisting member is greater in width than theassociated shock absorbing member while said wear resisting member beingadapted to be positioned flush with the surface of the associated guiderail after impacts of the wheel having been absorbed by said shockabsorbing member, thereby allowing said wheel to travel upon said wearresisting member.
 18. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10,characterized by that said shock absorbing members are made of rubber,and each has a thickness preferably 10 to 15 times the amount ofprojection beyond the surface of the rail.
 19. Guide rail means as setforth in claim 10, characterized by that said shock absorbing membersare provided in juxtaposition with said associated rails while the widthof each shock absorbing member being less than half the width of saidassociated wheel.
 20. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10,characterized by the provision of at least one supporting frame forsupporting said guide rails, said supporting frame retaining said shockabsorbing members in position while guide plates for preventing thewheels from zigzag motion along the guide rails are provided on saidsupporting frame.
 21. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10,characterized by that in the region where the guide rails on which therespective front and rear wheels in each of said stair elements travelare arrangEd flush with each other, a common rail for both of the frontand rear wheels is disposed on and centrally of a U-shaped supportingframe, shock absorbing members each having a width less than half thewidth of said respective wheel being provided between said common railand the side walls of said U-shaped supporting frame, while holdingplates serving to retain said respective shock absorbing members inposition being provided on the inner side walls of said supportingframe.
 22. Guide rail means as set forth in claim 10, characterized bythat said each guide rail is formed with a groove into which the shockabsorbing member is inserted as projecting slightly beyond the surfaceof said rail to engage said associated wheel, said shock absorbingmember being adapted to absorb impact forces exerted by said wheel incontact engagement with the rail and thereafter be positioned flush withor below the surface of said rail.
 23. Guide rail means as set forth inclaim 22, characterized by that said groove is countersunk to form arecess wider than said groove while said shock absorbing member provideson the upper surface thereof a rigid member of substantialwear-resistance wider than said shock absorbing member, said rigidmember being adapted, during the travelling of the wheel, for snugengagement in said recess to be positioned flush with the surface ofsaid rail.
 24. A conveyor arrangement comprising: a conveying means, aplurality of roller means connected to said conveying means for movablesupporting the same, guide rail means for receiving and guiding themovement of said roller means, means provided along at least selectedportions of said guide rail means for absorbing impact forces of saidroller means, said impact absorbing means including a plurality of shockabsorbing members, said shock absorbing members including surfaceportions projecting above the surfaces of the guiding rail means topermit said roller means to engage said surface portions prior toengaging said guide rail means, said shock absorbing members beingdeformable upon engagement with said roller means to assume a positionat least flush with said guide rail means to permit said roller means tobe guided by said guide rail means.
 25. An arrangement according toclaim 24, wherein said roller means are disposed on respective lateralsides of said conveying means, said guiding rail means including a pairof spaced tracks disposed on respective sides of said conveying meansfor receiving said roller means therebetween, each of said tracks beingprovided with a shock absorbing member disposed substantially centrallythereof.
 26. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein each of saidtracks is provided with a longitudinally extending groove, and whereinsaid shock absorbing members are disposed within said groove.
 27. Anarrangement according to claim 25, wherein said projecting surfaceportions of said shock absorbing members are provided with a wearresistant member, said guide tracks being provided with means forreceiving said last-mentioned member to permit said member to assume aflush position with said guide tracks upon deformation of said shockabsorbing members by said roller means.
 28. An arrangement according toclaim 25, wherein a substantially U-shaped support frame is provided formaintaining the respective pair of guide tracks in spaced relationship,each guide track of a respective pair being disposed on a respective legof said U-shaped support frame with a shock absorbing member beingdisposed adjacent to and in abutting relationship with a respectiveguide track.